Thank you so much reviewers!
Ohhhh! Yuki went missing last chapter, Akito has ordered to not search for him, and everyone is extremely worried…what will happen next?
Let's pick up the story around a year and half after Yuki went missing, he went missing in the summer, so we're picking up with the following winter.
Disclaimer: I do not own Fruits Basket.
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Chapter 7 I Can't Stay
It has been a year and half after the zodiac lost all contact with the rat, Yuki Sohma. Their family head ordered them to stop searching for him, because he didn't matter anymore. But how could they? How could they give up on a member of their own family? A member that mattered so much to them…how could they give him up? So they continued searching, no one dared to take it to the police in fear that Akito might find out. They searched, in private, in secret. The problem was, they didn't have any idea where to begin searching. They had no idea where Yuki had gone.
The Sohma family started with schools, seeing if Yuki had enrolled in any university for his studies. However, some of the much more prestigious schools didn't allow them to search. Nothing came up; they tried hotels, nothing. They wanted to try the airlines, but they couldn't take their search that far, seeing as to how checking the airlines would gain attention, and attention was the last thing that they wanted. What could they do? Week after week, month after month, the searches were always in vain; Yuki couldn't be found.
But they continued, a little a day. But as school started again (Tohru and Kyo got into Tokyo University, where Haru and Momiji graduated to a year later, and Hiro and Kisa went to their old high school), the search was put somewhat on hold, not that they were going anywhere before. They tried to find the rat, but nothing came up. They did not know, that their luck was about to change…
"Ah!" Ayame yelled as he dodged the workmen that were decorating the small enclosed space of the main house (a/n ok, I have no idea what it's like inside the main house, but in my story, there's like this yard that all the zodiac members live in during New Year's, including Kyo.) where the zodiac members resided during this time of year.
Ayame walked in to Hatori's room, where Shigure was also, complained, "They really should be more considerate of the people that are walking in the corridors, I got pushed around so often!"
Shigure, who had arrived just earlier with Kyo and Tohru, comforted his best friend. Hatori, who was used to his friends' idiocy, ignored them. He looked around the room and spotted the decorated paper with the cutouts of the different zodiac animals on it. He sighed, which was noticed by the snake and the dog. Their eyes also traveled to the paper, and all three stared at the rat cutout.
"It's been a year and half, hasn't it?" Shigure asked to no one in particular. He was uneasy in bringing up the subject, seeing as to how Ayame always got sad at the mentioning of his brother.
Hatori nodded, which no one could see because they were still staring at the paper. Ayame just sighed and tried to look away, but found himself unable to tear his eyes away from the cutout of his estranged brother's zodiac animal. Ayame shook his head as if to clear out his sadness and jumped up, "Come on, I need some fresh air." He mumbled before walking out. The doctor and the writer followed him.
They were walking along one of the outside corridors when a young man walking through the entrance of the yard caught their sight. This yard, or living space, was reserved for the members of the zodiac only, although, sometimes, members living 'inside' were allowed to enter. As for the people who lived 'outside', they didn't even know that it existed. So the three friends were puzzled to see a young man walk in, they didn't his face, because the corridor faced the side of the young man who walked in. He did look very familiar however. The stranger turned the opposite direction, so now, the three men were looking at his back, his gray hair swaying because of the blowing wind.
Hatori wasn't very patient with members of the 'outside' who had no consideration whatsoever of 'inside' people. He took up his cold demeanor and demanded, "What are you doing here? You aren't allowed."
Shigure looked at the doctor and frowned at the stranger, whom the words seem to have no affect on, he only stopped walking. "Now, now, Tori, he might be lost!" Shigure said, although he wasn't very glad that a stranger was trespassing.
Ayame cared a lot about the sake of keeping the zodiac secret, well, secret. However, since he was in his sad state, he wasn't especially in the mood to be part of this conversation.
The stranger stood as he had before, the sound of a laugh could be just slightly detected, the stranger said, "Same as always, aren't we?" His voice was unmistakable, so familiar, and yet a little different; the stranger turned around and was greeted by three shocked faces. It was…
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A/N Oooo…who could it be? MWHAHAHA! Ok, ok, I'll stop being evil and let you read the rest of the story. Although, you probably already know who it is…
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…Yuki!
The three stood shocked, after all their searches throughout the months, after all their attempts to uncover where Yuki was, their result stood right before them, Yuki Sohma. Yuki cocked his head as if examining the three men who stood before him. He smiled a little, somewhat a sad smile. He took in a deep breath and waited for the adults to speak.
Ayame was the first to snap out of his daze, he had wait so long to see his brother, and the rat was finally here! Ayame's cheerful attitude immediately returned, and before Yuki could have time to threaten his brother to back off, Ayame had Yuki locking in a hug. Yuki struggled, but Ayame was strong when it came to brotherly affections, not to say that Yuki would never allow Ayame to hug him again if Ayame let go.
"Get off!" Yuki yelled to his older brother, he would've kicked or thrown, whichever one would've hurt more, Ayame off. But it was New Years, and Yuki thought that it might be unwise to hurt Ayame just before the big banquet.
Shigure burst out laughing at the sight of Yuki struggling against Ayame's bear hug, which looked almost suffocating enough, he joked, "Aya! You've never hugged me like that."
Hatori shook his head at the idiocy of his two best friends. Because Hatori knew how much Ayame had missed his brother, he let Ayame hug Yuki for a little longer before saying to Ayame, "I think you should probably let him go."
Ayame let Yuki go reluctantly, and he came face to face with a scowling man. Yuki had matured some over the year and half that he's been gone; he had grown taller, his height was almost as tall as his brother's. His features were sharpened, making him look more handsome than ever. However, his eyes, they seemed to be more distant, colder.
He asked after glaring at Ayame for one more time, "Is there someplace that we can talk? Privately?"
All three men looked at Yuki and nodded. Hatori led the group to his room and closed the door.
"Do you need to talk to all of us?" Shigure asked, "Because we can just send someone to get Tohru and Kyo from Kazuma's house." (a/n Is that right? Is that his name?)
Yuki quickly shook his head as if the last thing he wanted was to talk to them all. He had a puzzled look, Why was Tohru was here?
Shigure, as if sensing Yuki's question, supplied the answer, "Well, we couldn't let our beautiful flower all alone on New Year's could we?" Shigure questioned, voice full of laughter.
"He allowed you to?" Yuki asked.
All three men knew whom Yuki was indicating to, but it was Hatori who answered, "Akito…he…his health, has been failing. He won't be coming here to see the banquet this year."
Yuki raised his eyebrows in surprise, not that Akito was ever extremely healthy or anything. At another time, he might have been happy that he wouldn't be seeing Akito, but at the moment, he relented no emotions. He had gone passed showing his emotions, he has locked himself in again, afraid of someone hurting him again. He questioned, "So he doesn't know?"
Ayame looked at his brother uneasily. The Yuki that had left them wasn't this…cold. Yuki had always closed himself off, but when Tohru had come along, Yuki had grown more affectionate, especially towards the girl. But now, it seems as if Yuki was even worse than when he had started, his voice was hard, his words full of iciness.
Shigure said, "No, he doesn't. He told us to take care of the dance and the banquet. We didn't want Tohru to be alone for the holiday. I had to be here, and I didn't trust Kyo and Tohru to be at home along, seeing as to how they are going out now."
Shigure watched a change in expression on Yuki's face; he thought that he detected a flash of hurt behind Yuki's cold eyes, but other than that, nothing. Hatori glared at Shigure, and Shigure responded with an I-had-to-see-how-he-would-respond look. Ayame knew that Yuki loved Tohru, it made the puzzle of why he left even more confusing. The three men were happy for Tohru and Kyo, being able to find happiness in each other. But they always did wonder, how would Yuki act when he came back, if he ever came back. How would the rat feel when he realized that he lost the girl that he loved to his arch-nemesis, the cat?
Yuki didn't realize their faces studying him because he was in chaos inside. Tohru…Kyo…going out. Yuki's face remained expressionless, but inside, Yuki wanted to laugh, but he couldn't. It was as he had guessed, the cat and Tohru, going out. Yuki was in turmoil, his heart had been broken once when he saw Kyo kissing Tohru on the forehead on the roof…when he had known that Kyo was taking Tohru to the dance…when he realized that he must leave Tohru…but now, his heart was shattered. He had lost. Tohru was going out with Kyo; he lost all his hope of ever having Tohru loving him. Yuki tried to quiet the chaos inside him, but didn't succeed. He realized the faces of the three men studying him and thought, I have to act normal! They can't find out why I left.
"Still the same perverted mind I see." Yuki concluded still trying his best to calm himself.
Shigure and Ayame looked at his brother, surprised. Yuki's voice seemed to gain iciness; his demeanor was colder than before. Hatori was the only one who wasn't surprised. He's trying to hide his feelings. He may be expressionless outside, but inside, he's ready to erupt. He loves her, but he won't let it show because he feels that he has lost. Why did he leave? And is he here to stay? Hatori thought, trying once again the fill the puzzle of Yuki's sudden departure. He had tried; they all had tried, since the day he had left.
Ayame voiced Hatori's last question, "Are you staying?"
Yuki looked at his brother, then at the other two occupants of the room, and replied with, "No."
It was a definite reply; one that didn't seem to sound like it could be altered by anything.
Ayame's heart fell. He grew angry, "Why did you bother to come back then?" he almost shouted at Yuki.
Yuki was surprised at his brother's outburst. He shrugged and said, "I'm leaving."
Shigure intercepted, "Did you do that months ago?" he asked, his voice sad.
Yuki sighed and said, "I'm going to travel a bit. I thought it necessary to come and say good-bye," then sensing the angry looks of the snake, "this time."
Ayame's angry face diminished as he said, "Why can't you stay?"
Yuki closed his eyes for a moment, and more a moment, he looked like the Yuki a year and half ago, the Yuki that wasn't so cold. "Because if felt like I was finally free. It felt like I could finally escape." Yuki lied. He wasn't free, how could he be free when the love of his life wasn't by him, wasn't there to give him the smile that he treasured.
Ayame looked at his brother, and said, "You're lying."
As simple as that, Yuki had never expected his brother to uncover his lie, he shook his head, looked at the ground and said, "Yes. A more important reason does bind me."
The three men were confused, but they all knew that Yuki wasn't going to give them any other reply. Hatori then asked, "Where were you?"
Yuki looked up at the doctor and said, "Tokyo University."
Hatori smiled sadly, "One of the many placed that we couldn't search, and you just happen to be there."
Shigure frowned, "You can't have graduated yet…"
Yuki smiled, but didn't seem to have enough effort to keep it up. He replied, "No, I'm taking a program that coexists with my Master's. And summer courses are wonders."
Ayame smiled, the first true genuine smile since he came to the Main House. His brother was smart, and he was proud of him.
Yuki sighed again, and deciding against torturing them further said, "I'll be back, in a year."
The three men perked up at Yuki's response. Ayame was the most glad, he was about to hug Yuki again, but Yuki realized this time and threatened, "Don't you dare! Or else I'll be forced to take drastic measures."
Hatori smiled at Yuki regular attitude. He would be back, so all they had to do would be to wait patiently. He asked, "You sure you don't want to see everyone? Kyo said that he and Tohru would be coming back around now." He finished with a look at the clock.
Yuki's face seems to show fear for a second, which no one understood. He quickly shook his head and said, "No, I have to go. It's best if I don't see them."
"Now?" Ayame said, puzzled, "Surely you're going to stick around for the dance and the banquet. I can't wait to see Hiro." (a/n I might be wrong about the years.)
Yuki shook his head again and looked at the ground pensively.
Hatori frowned, it seem almost for a moment that Yuki didn't want to see Tohru, or maybe Tohru with Kyo. It was getting more puzzling by the moment. He asked, "Where are you going on New Years? I don't think that anything's open."
Yuki looked up, "Somewhere, not here." He said and looking away.
The four people sat quietly for a moment. Yuki sighed again and got up, "I have to go. I have a plane to catch."
The three men looked at their younger cousin. He had more goals; he had grown. He knew where he wanted to go. But the only thing that he wanted seems to be out of his reach. They understood that, because no matter how hard Yuki tried to hide it, the three older men realized that since the mention of Tohru, his face was plagued by a hidden sad expression.
Yuki, hearing no response, continued, "I believe that I haven't paid my respects for New Years." He said as he bowed to each of the three men, he then said, "I would appreciate it if Akito didn't know about this. Or anyone else for that matter."
The three men nodded. They understood that Yuki didn't want Akito to know, but why hide it from the rest? The enigma was getting bigger and bigger.
Yuki looked around the room one last time and tried to say something, but his voice wouldn't let him. Good-byes make it so much harder. The last time he left, he hadn't needed to say them. But now, as he was about to leave his family again for the second time…Yuki hadn't expected the lump in his throat.
Hatori looked at Ayame, who had redeemed his sad expression, "He's going to come back."
Yuki nodded and said, "I'm sorry. I really am."
Ayame spoke, "Don't you think that you're being a little selfish? Don't you care how we felt when you left?"
Yuki's eyes flashed in hurt at the word 'selfish', They don't understand why I left, and I can't tell them.
Hatori, being the observant doctor that he is, realized Yuki's change. Why does Yuki have to be such a deep enigma?
Yuki replied with, "I can't stay. I am sorry if you think that I am selfish. But you don't understand why I'm acting selfish. There is a stronger reason than the one that I supplied. A reason that I can't ignore." With that, he walked out the door.
Yuki walked silently down the corridor. When he was before the gate, he reached his hand up to the intricate designs on the door, the fine details that has been put into the carved figures of the twelve zodiac animals that were in a circle, and that cat that was left out of the circle. Yuki looked at these animals, murmured a sorry, and walked out the door.
The three men sat silently. Yuki had walked out…again. But this time, they had the reassurance of him coming back. For now, they could only wait.
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Ok…whew! Chapter seven done!
A note of apology…I really don't know the customs of how the Sohma's spend New Years…so I'm very truly sorry about any mistakes that I've made in writing! Also, I know that some of my characters seem to be out of character and I'm really sorry! I hope that they haven't been altered too much from the manga…so please bear with me! I know that having Yuki going again isn't the best possible idea…but I kind of needed it as a medium for the next chapter (and I didn't know what to write)…because I didn't want Yuki to be gone for too long without contacting the Sohma family…and I needed it to explain some of the later chapters…
A note of thanks…Thanks to all my reviewers! You guys are the best! I'm so happy that you've enjoyed my story and I'll try my best to write happier chapter… Like I said before, it will be a Yukiru. Yuki and Tohru will grasp the idea and they'll be together. Please keep reading & reviewing! Next chapter, Yuki comes back to stay!